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Oral health surveys

The Queensland Child Oral Health Survey 2010-12 was commissioned by Queensland Health to provide a ‘snapshot’ of child oral health in Queensland, including levels of dental decay, dental fluorosis and perceived oral health.

The survey report also provides information for the evaluation of water fluoridation in Queensland by describing variations in child oral health across Queensland and by providing a baseline measure of child oral health to compare with future surveys.

Four regions were involved in the survey:

Townsville

rest of northern Queensland

Brisbane Metropolitan

rest of south-east Queensland.

The report shows substantial differences between the levels of primary tooth decay in long-term fluoridated Townsville (39%) and the previously non-fluoridated rest of north Queensland (57%).

Other key findings of the survey:

One in 3 children aged 5-6 years old have never visited a dentist.

Almost half of the state’s 5-10 year olds have had decay in their primary teeth.

Over a quarter of 6-14 year olds have had decay in their permanent teeth.

Only three-quarters of children brush their teeth the recommended twice a day.

The survey of over 5,000 Queensland children aged 5 to 14 years was conducted by Queensland public oral health staff in collaboration with The University of Adelaide under a research grant from Queensland Health.